Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid – Memphis, TN

The Largest Bass Pro in America is Inside a Giant Pyramid

Imagine walking into a 32-story glass pyramid on the banks of the Mississippi River, and discovering a wilderness-themed hotel, 600,000 gallons of indoor swamps and aquariums, and the biggest outdoor-gear store in the United States. Welcome to Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid in downtown Memphis, Tennessee.

At roughly 535,000 square feet, this isn’t just the largest Bass Pro Shops, it’s one of the largest retail spaces in America. It even beats the famous Springfield, Missouri flagship by about 35,000 square feet.

From Sports Arena to Outdoor Wonderland

The Memphis Pyramid itself is an architectural marvel at 321 feet tall (about 32 stories), with base sides stretching nearly 600 feet. Originally built in 1991 as a sports and concert arena, it was completely reimagined by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris in 2015 into a one-of-a-kind retail and entertainment destination.

The transformation turned what was once an underused arena into an indoor wilderness paradise that attracts millions of visitors every year.

What You’ll Find Inside

This is more than shopping, it’s a full-blown adventure under one colossal roof. Highlights include:

• The Mississippi Terrace, an open-air venue for events and live music.
• Big Cypress Lodge, a 103-room wilderness-themed hotel built right into the upper levels of the Pyramid, with balconies overlooking a massive indoor cypress swamp.
• Wahlburgers Wild, the only wilderness-themed Wahlburgers restaurant, created by Chef Paul Wahlberg.
• The Lookout at the Pyramid, a fine-dining restaurant and bar at the very top, offering sweeping panoramic views of Memphis and the Mississippi River.
• Signature Bass Pro amenities: an archery range, pistol range, gun center, and massive boating & fishing department.
• A 28-story freestanding glass elevator, the tallest in America, that takes you to the observation deck in under a minute.
• Aquariums with 1,800+ fish, totaling 600,000 gallons of water, featuring live alligators, giant catfish, and 100-foot-tall cypress trees surrounded by mist and waterfalls.

Record-Breaking Popularity

Since opening in April 2015, Bass Pro at the Pyramid has become one of Memphis’s most visited attractions.

• Over 1 million visitors in the first 70 days.
• Over 3 million visitors in the first year.
• $56.3 million in sales recorded in the first 12 months of operation.
• Consistently among the top-visited retail destinations in the U.S., drawing tourists from all 50 states.

With 200 million+ annual visitors across all Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s locations, this Memphis outpost is a crown jewel of the brand.

The Bigger Picture: A Boost for Memphis

The Pyramid’s success helped fuel a major tourism revival for downtown Memphis.
According to Memphis Travel:

• The region now welcomes 13.5 million annual visitors.
• Visitor spending reached $4.2 billion per year.
• The local hospitality & tourism workforce numbers more than 44,000 people.

For the city, this once-vacant arena has become a symbol of creative redevelopment, blending architecture, commerce, and tourism in one bold experiment that worked.

Visitor Tips

• Observation Deck Admission: Around $8 for adults, $5 for children.
• Hours: 9 a.m.–9 p.m. (Mon–Sat), 10 a.m.–7 p.m. (Sun).
• Best Time to Visit: Early mornings or weekdays to avoid crowds.
• Parking: On-site garage and surface parking available.

Why It Matters

What makes the Memphis Pyramid extraordinary isn’t just its size, it’s what it represents.
It’s a story of reinvention: a dormant sports arena transformed into an economic engine that redefined an entire city’s skyline and tourism identity.

Whether you’re an outdoors enthusiast, a design geek fascinated by adaptive reuse, or simply looking for a destination unlike anything else in America, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid deserves a spot on your travel list.